For May, a single parent of four in Merced, getting an electric vehicle wasn’t about the brand it was about stability, savings, and protecting her family’s health.
“I was paying quite a bit in gas and repairs,” she says. “With one car, we do five stops. We’d go back and forth all day, drop-offs, work, school. The miles really added up.”
When she learned about the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) through a family friend, she applied immediately. “He said, ‘Since your income level is this and you’ve got kids, you might qualify.’ So, I thought, it doesn’t hurt to put in an application.”
For May, the decision to go electric was intentional. “The EV car was really important because of how much we drive,” she explains. “And financially, it was just a no-brainer. Everything in California is so expensive.” Her home is solar-powered and energy-efficient, making Tesla the perfect fit. “My house was already pre-wired for clean energy, an EV just made sense.”
“I definitely see the savings and the gas savings especially,” May says. “And no more oil changes. I’ve been really careful my whole life about maintenance because one big repair can hit hard. This car takes that stress away.”
But for May, the benefits aren’t only financial, they’re environmental and personal. “It’s our responsibility to keep our earth clean,” she says. “We live in the valley where all the smog settles. Knowing I’m driving something that keeps our air cleaner—it matters for our health.” She even connects what she’s learned to her daughter’s schoolwork. “My high schooler is studying geography and the environment, so we talk a lot about the impact we have on our earth.”
“It’s nothing but a positive thing to have a grant that helps you get into a vehicle not just financially, but for clean air,” she says. “I’ve already shared the program with family members. I love that DCAP lets you get a used car, too. That still goes a long way.”
“It’s made such a big financial difference for my family,” May says. “And it feels good knowing we’re doing our part to keep the air clean.”